Textile sheet material with splinter, stab and/or cut protection

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a textile sheet material (sheet structure) with splinter, stab and/or cut protection, in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment, preferably for the military and/or civilian sector.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage filing of International Application PCT/EP 2020/052252 filed Jan. 30, 2020, entitled “TEXTILE SURFACE MATERIAL HAVING SPLINTER, STAB AND/OR CUTTING PROTECTION” claiming priority to PCT/EP/2019/025294, filed Sep. 3, 2019, and PCT/EP/2020/051301, filed Jan. 20, 2020. The subject application claims priority to PCT/EP 2020/052252, PCT/EP/2019/025294, and PCT/EP/2020/051301, and incorporates all by reference herein, in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of textile sheet materials or textile protective materials which have special protective properties, in particular with regard to the provision of protection against splinters, punctures or cuts. The materials in question can be used in particular in the military or civilian field, both in the field of personal protection and in the field of protection of objects, such as military equipment or the like, whereby, in addition to a protective function against the effects of cutting and stabbing weapons and impact weapons, a protective function against acting (explosive) forces or against ballistic objects or projectiles, in particular in the form of splinters or the like, is also provided or guaranteed.

Against this background, the present invention relates in particular to a textile sheet material (sheet structure) with splinter, puncture or cut protection, which can be used in particular in protective clothing or protective equipment for the military or civilian sector.

The present invention also relates to a protective article which is in particular in the form of protective clothing or in the form of protective equipment and which comprises or is formed from the textile sheet material according to the invention.

In addition, the present invention also relates to the use of the sheet material according to the invention for providing or increasing splinter, puncture or cut protection in protective articles, such as may be in the form of protective clothing or protective equipment.

Finally, the present invention also relates to a method of providing or increasing splinter, puncture and/or cut protection in the protective articles at issue.

Persons who are deployed in the military field as well as in terrorist security, such as soldiers of military units, border guards, police officers, security personnel or the like, are often exposed to the direct or at least latent danger of a direct physical force or force impact in the course of their deployment, such as military combat or security missions, antiterrorist missions or missions for, in particular, military or terrorist security or the like. Such an effect can, for example, be caused not only by projectiles originating from firearms or the like, but also by the effect or explosion of explosive devices and the associated release of splinters [both on the basis of primary splinters originating directly from the explosive device and on the basis of secondary splinters released or caused in the subsequent process of the explosion]. secondary splinters (which can be caused by the impact of primary splinters or pressure waves associated with the explosion on other objects)] and also as a result of the force exerted by various objects, such as flying debris or the like. Such an impact of force or violence is associated with an even considerable risk of injury for persons affected by it. In general, an acute threat, for example to persons on military duty or involved in counter-terrorism operations, such as soldiers, border guards and police officers, is posed by so-called unconventional explosive devices, which are also referred to synonymously as IEDs (“Improvised Explosive Devices”). Such explosive devices represent a dangerous tool with high destructive potential in warfare or terrorist actions or the like.

Such unconventional explosive devices are also problematic from the point of view that they can often be manufactured without a great deal of technical effort or prior technical knowledge. In addition, the materials on which such explosive devices are based, as well as the size and appearance of such explosive devices, exhibit a high degree of variability, so that location and identification are correspondingly more difficult Although unconventional explosive devices often have a simple design, they are often accompanied by a great destructive force, since there is an explosive release of primary fragments and secondary fragments caused by them (which are caused or released by the impact of the primary fragments or the pressure wave on corresponding objects or the like), so that with regard to the total fragment release, there is a dangerous and incalculable multiplication, so to speak. In addition, the explosion of unconventional explosive devices is accompanied by the generation of a large shock wave as well as fire and heat, which represent further serious sources of danger.

In general, the mode of operation of unconventional explosive devices is that the explosive device is detonated by the detonation of explosives, accompanied by the explosive release of primary fragments, which propagate at high speed from the explosion site with the concomitant blast wave.

In addition, the pressure wave and the resulting primary fragments can lead to the subsequent release of secondary fragments, often in the form of (micro) particles, such as dirt, dust and sand, as well as fragments of destroyed objects from the immediate or indirect vicinity of the explosion site of the blasting device. The secondary fragments may also originate, for example, from equipment destroyed by the explosion, vehicles (such as vehicle interiors) or the like.

In this context, against the background of the mode of action of unconventional explosive devices, a distinction can be made between a so-called primary blast radius, which directly refers to the release of primary fragments starting from the unconventional explosive device, and a secondary blast radius, which relates to the subsequent release of secondary fragments as a consequence of the blast wave and the resulting primary fragments, starting from the point of explosion of an unconventional blasting device.

As a result of the special mode of operation of unconventional explosive devices, which includes the explosive release of primary fragments and the so to speak downstream formation or release of secondary fragments, a high risk of injury results for persons exposed to the detonation of unconventional explosive devices, as mentioned above. In this context, extensive and serious injuries can sometimes occur, resulting in particular from the impact or penetration of primary or secondary fragments on or into the body, but also as a result of the pressure wave present or the effect of fire and heat. These injuries are often so severe that they lead to death or require serious surgical interventions, including the amputation of extremities or genitals, accompanied by a lasting loss of mobility or a profound restriction of the quality of life of the persons affected.

The injuries associated with the impact of unconventional explosive devices are also often extremely problematic for the reason that splinters (primary splinters as well as secondary splinters) acting on a person often penetrate the upper layers of the skin of the persons concerned and thereby penetrate deep into the body, which is also associated with the destruction or injury of physiologically important body regions or structures, such as blood vessels, nerve tracts, internal organs or the like. In addition, there is often a high risk of infection, especially since, in the case of increased fragment density, contaminated secondary fragments sometimes act on the body in large numbers and high density (i.e. with a small distance from each other) and, as previously stated, sometimes penetrate deeply into the body and consequently there is also direct contact or direct action on, for example, blood vessels or the like.

With regard to the resulting injuries or types of injuries, it is also significant that with increasing distance from the explosion site, the flight altitude of the fragments emanating from near-ground explosions generally also increases, so that with increasing distance, large-area injuries can often result in almost all areas of the body. Consequently, it is generally the case that a frequent injury scenario is that there are corresponding injuries starting from the lower extremities up to the lower torso area of an affected person, whereby, with increasing distance from the explosion site, there may also be injuries to the upper extremities as well as the upper body, in particular the side, up to the neck and the face of the affected person.

In general, the chances of survival of persons in the primary explosion radius are often low due to the high speed, quantity and size of the (primary) fragments released and due to the high heat, fire and pressure effects. In contrast, the probability of survival increases with increasing distance from the explosion site, since secondary fragments with lower impact energy are predominantly present in the secondary explosion radius. However, such secondary fragments can also lead to serious injuries of various types and intensities, since even small fragment sizes are problematic in this respect, particularly as a result of their large quantity and the associated high impact density, accompanied by a correspondingly increased risk of infection, as mentioned above.

In addition, persons deployed in military operations or in counter-terrorism or counter-security operations are also further endangered by stabbing and cutting effects, such as those caused by the use of cutting or stabbing weapons such as knives or the like. This can also cause lasting injury to the person concerned.

In addition, as a result of the impact of ballistic objects, such as projectiles, splinters, such as primary or secondary splinters, and in particular flying debris or the like, there is a considerable risk of destruction of equipment used in the operation, whereby the affected equipment can be destroyed or damaged, accompanied by a loss of function. This, in turn, is associated with further disadvantages for personnel on duty, since destroyed or non-functioning equipment may mean that important technical support is lost and, in addition, the purpose or objective of the mission can no longer be achieved.

Thus, it is particularly the case that, for example, equipment used in corresponding military operations or for counter-terrorism, such as emergency vehicles, machines, weapons, ammunition, spare parts, electronic objects, accessories, installations, facilities, equipment or the like, can also be damaged or even destroyed, in particular by the effect of unconventional explosive devices with the associated release of fragments, especially as these are often complex and technically sensitive objects. For example, corresponding primary or secondary fragments can penetrate the outer skin, walls or housing of corresponding objects and thus also act on the interior of the corresponding objects, accompanied by corresponding damage to or destruction of the underlying equipment or the underlying apparatus. Furthermore, such objects can also be damaged or destroyed accordingly as a result of the use of, for example, cutting or stabbing weapons.

It is clear from the above that there is a great need in the state of the art to provide effective protective systems and corresponding protective materials which provide effective protection against fragments released by explosion or detonation and further protection against the effects of punctures and cuts, whereby the corresponding material is intended to provide effective and individually adaptable protection with regard to the persons to be protected and the objects or equipment to be protected, with a wide range of applications.

However, the protective materials and systems known in the state of the art do not always meet the high demands placed on such materials, either in terms of their protective function as such or their manageability, individual adaptability and durability.

The protective materials known in the prior art also sometimes have the disadvantage that they are often not sufficiently flexible in terms of their material properties, which impairs their individual adaptability to the structures to be protected, their further processing and their wearing comfort, for example in the case of use as protective clothing. Moreover, the protective materials known in the prior art do not always exhibit a desired durability with respect to ballistic stability. Furthermore, the haptic properties are not always optimal.

With regard to the state of the art with its approaches and measures for the provision of protective materials to ensure a certain degree of protection against objects released in the form of explosions or projectiles, it should also be noted that the state of the art is based primarily on the use of materials or yarns for the formation of textile sheet materials on the basis of para-aramid (synonymously also referred to as para-aramid, para-aramide or poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA)).

Although such systems based on para-aramid exhibit a certain strength, impact strength and elongation at break and are thus fundamentally suitable as a fragmentation protection material, a central disadvantage of para-aramids is that they are neither UV-stable nor moisture-stable, so that corresponding materials based on para-aramids lose their strength properties and thus their ballistic protection function when exposed to UV-radiation or moisture, such as body perspiration or rain or washing water. For this reason too, these materials have only limited washing and cleaning properties, which is equally disadvantageous.

Furthermore, fibers or yarns based on para-aramids have only a low breaking strength transverse to the longitudinal axis, which is disadvantageous in particular with regard to the processing of these materials into corresponding textile sheet materials, in particular in the form of knitted fabrics, since yarn or fiber breakage can occur in the event of bending (e.g. in the formation of stitches).

In order to counteract the aforementioned disadvantageous material properties of para-aramids to a certain extent, the state of the art sometimes provides for the material based on para-aramids to be provided with a water-repellent finish or to be shrink-wrapped in films in order to counteract the degenerative process of loss of stability, in particular due to moisture or UV radiation. However, such a procedure is disadvantageous in that the wearing comfort of the resulting materials is impaired, since the transport of moisture is reduced or prevented when worn and the air permeability of the material is also adversely affected.

Due to the high sensitivity to UV radiation, the underlying materials are only suitable to a limited extent for use in protective form of outer clothing or outer underwear, which is worn in particular as the outermost layer and is thus exposed to direct sunlight. In this context, the drying or storage of the materials under sunlight with corresponding UV exposure is also problematic.

DE 30 34 547 C2 relates to a garment having at least one puncture-resistant surface element comprising a plurality of three-dimensionally shaped and mutually consolidated layers of textile aramid fiber surfaces, the surface element being consolidated by stitching in a preselected shape adapted to the body shape of the wearer.

Furthermore, WO 99/37969 A1 as well as DE 198 02 242 A1 or EP 1 058 808 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,570 B1, which belong to the same patent family, relate to a protective clothing for protection against stabbing injuries, which is intended to provide a certain degree of protection against needle-like stabbing devices, the protective clothing comprising a plurality of layers of sheet-like structures made of break-resistant materials, more than one of the layers being coated with a hard material layer. This is based on the use of aramid fabrics to form the layers.

In addition, EP 1 229 298 A1 relates to a protective element which can be used to protect equipment or objects and which has a cover-like structure with solid fibers, the protective element having cavities or chambers which are filled with at least one hollow body. With regard to the underlying fibers, the use of aramid fibers is considered to be decisive.

Moreover, as regards the use of other starting materials different from para-aramid, which are used in particular in the form of yarns for the production of flat materials, the underlying yarns do not always have optimal processing characteristics, in particular with regard to their stiffness and sliding properties (which makes their processing into textiles more difficult). Moreover, even such yarns can still be optimized in terms of their stability. Moreover, excessive stiffness due to limited flexibility and pliability also leads to less than optimal wearing properties when used for protective clothing and to limited adaptability of the materials when used as protective covers or the like for devices or equipment.

In summary, it can thus be stated that the materials mentioned in the prior art or concepts provided in this respect do not always have optimum stability properties with regard to guaranteeing a certain protective function against ballistic force effects, in particular with regard to providing a certain splinter protection, and this also with regard to providing a permanent ballistic resistance. Furthermore, the materials or concepts known in the prior art are not always accompanied by optimum application and processing properties, whereby, moreover, in particular with regard to use as protective clothing, optimum wearing properties are not always present and, with regard to use as protective equipment for objects, optimum adaptation properties to the object to be protected are not always present.

For this reason, too, there is a great need to provide special protective materials which, while at the same time offering a high level of protection, especially against fragments released by detonation or explosion, are also very comfortable to wear when used as protective clothing and, when used as protective material for equipment or objects, are also highly adaptable to the object to be protected.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the present invention is therefore based on the task of providing an efficient concept for the provision of a protective material, whereby the disadvantages of the prior art described above are to be at least largely avoided or at least mitigated. In this context, one particular task of the present invention is to provide a protective material which can be used as protective clothing and also as protective equipment or material (for example for protecting objects or equipment material or the like) for the military or civilian sector and which has an improved ballistic protective function compared with the prior art, in particular with respect to fragments released by detonation or explosion, it also being intended to provide stab-protection and cut-protection properties. At the same time, the protective material provided according to the invention is also to have a high resistance to moisture and UV-radiation, while at the same time having a high protective function.

In this context, one task of the present invention is in particular to provide a special protective material which has a high surface stability and durability, whereby the protective material should at the same time be universally usable or have an individual adaptability with regard to the underlying purpose, for example as protective clothing or as protective equipment for equipment or objects or the like, or can be tailored for the respective purpose. In this context, a high overall splinter protection function as well as corresponding cut or stab protection properties are to be provided at the same time. In the case of use as protective clothing, a correspondingly high level of wearer comfort should also be guaranteed.

Similarly, another object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding protective material which has improved processability into corresponding protective clothing or protective equipment.

In order to solve the task described above, the present invention thus proposes—in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention—the textile sheet material or sheet structure with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection properties, preferably with splinter protection properties, in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment for the military and/or civilian sector, initially claimed and then in further patent claims (secondary claims) which are independent in this respect; in each case further advantageous further developments and embodiments of this aspect of the invention are the subject of the corresponding subclaims relating to the textile sheet material.

A further object of the present invention is—according to a second aspect of the present invention—the protective article according to the invention, which is present in particular in the form of protective clothing or in the form of protective equipment, with splinter, puncture or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for the military and/or civilian sector, according to the claim which is independent in this respect and relates to the protective article; in each case further advantageous further developments and embodiments of this aspect of the invention are the subject of the corresponding subclaims relating to the protective article according to the invention.

Furthermore, it is also an object of the present invention—according to a third aspect of the present invention—to use the sheet material according to the invention for providing or increasing a splinter, puncture or cut protection, preferably splinter protection, in protective articles which are in particular in the form of protective clothing or protective equipment, according to the independent claim for use in this respect.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention—according to a fourth aspect of the present invention—to provide or increase a splinter, puncture or cut protection, preferably splinter protection, in protective articles which are in particular in the form of protective clothing or protective equipment, according to the related independent method claim.

It goes without saying that in the following description of the present invention, such embodiments, embodiments, advantages, examples or the like which are set forth below—for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition—only with respect to a single aspect of the invention, naturally also apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the other aspects of the invention, without the need for express mention thereof.

Furthermore, with regard to the following description of the present invention, it is also the case that the features of the present invention cited in connection with the particular embodiments, embodiments, advantages, examples or the like are also regarded as disclosed in their combination. Thus, superordinate combinations of individual or several features, which are indicated for respective embodiments, embodiments, examples of use or the like, are also considered disclosed herein.

Furthermore, it is understood that in the following indications of values, numbers and ranges, the indications of values, numbers and ranges in this respect are not to be understood in a limiting manner; it is understood by the person skilled in the art that deviations from the indicated ranges or indications can be made in individual cases or in relation to the application without leaving the scope of the present invention.

In addition, it applies that all values or parameters or the like mentioned in the following can in principle be determined with standardized or explicitly stated determination methods or otherwise with determination or measurement methods familiar to the skilled person in this field. Unless otherwise stated, the underlying values or parameters are determined under standard conditions (i.e. in particular at a temperature of 20° C. and/or at a pressure of 1,013.25 hPa or 1.01325 bar).

In addition, it should be noted that in the case of all the relative or percentage, in particular weight-related, quantitative data listed below, these data are to be selected or combined by the skilled person in the context of the present invention in such a way that in the sum—if necessary including further components or ingredients, in particular as defined below—always 100% or 100% by weight results. However, this is self-evident for the person skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, in the following description of the objects according to the invention, recourse is also made to the reference signs indicated in the figures; the indication of the reference signs in this respect is purely illustrative and is not associated with any limitation of the objects according to the invention.

Having said this, the present invention will be described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of a structure of the textile sheet material according to the invention according to an embodiment according to the invention, according to which the textile sheet material is formed as knitted fabric, preferably as knitted fabric or as knitted fabric, wherein the textile sheet material or the textile knitted fabric is additionally provided with binding elements in the form of floats;

FIG. 1A provides a detail enlargement of FIG. 1 showing a further illustrative embodiment of the UMHW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, according to which the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is formed from UHMW-PE individual filaments which are brought together or twisted together to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn;

FIG. 1B provides an enlarged section again of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, with the illustrative formation of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn based on UHMW-PE individual filaments;

FIG. 2 provides a further schematic representation of a structure of the textile sheet material according to the invention according to an embodiment according to the invention, according to which the textile sheet material is formed as knitted fabric, specifically as knitted fabrics, wherein the textile sheet material or the textile knitted fabric is additionally provided with binding elements in the form of wefts (weft threads);

FIG. 2A provides a detail enlargement of FIG. 2 showing a further illustrative embodiment of the UMHW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, according to which the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is formed from UHMW-PE individual filaments which are brought together or twisted together to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn;

FIG. 2B provides an enlarged section again of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, with the illustrative formation of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn based on UHMW-PE individual filaments;

FIG. 3 provides a scanning electron microscope magnification representation of a textile sheet material according to the invention in plain view, wherein the sheet material according to the invention is formed as a textile knitted fabric;

FIG. 4 provides a light microscopic magnified view of the textile sheet material according to the invention in plain view, wherein the textile sheet material is equally formed as a knitted fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a textile sheet material (sheet structure) with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment, preferably for the military and/or civilian sector,

wherein the textile sheet material comprises or consists of at least one yarn system forming the textile sheet material, in particular a multifilament yarn system,

wherein the yarn system consists of or is formed from at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn consists of or is formed from a plurality of at least substantially identical and/or mutually at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments are connected to one another and/or combined with one another and/or brought together and/or combined, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (twisted), to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, preferably by twisting (twisting together) the UHMW-PE individual filaments (4) to one another, and

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has a titre (fineness, yarn count) of at least 150 dtex.

The textile sheet material according to the invention is in particular a sheet-like and/or two-dimensional textile material. The textile material can thereby in particular be used in or as protective clothing or in or as protective equipment, or can be processed to form protective clothing or protective equipment, this being in particular protective clothing or protective equipment for the military and/or civilian sector. In this respect, reference can also be made to the following explanations.

A central idea of the present invention is to be seen in particular in forming or providing a special textile sheet material (synonymously also referred to as sheet structure) on the basis of a yarn system using a very special yarn, wherein in this respect namely a UHMW-PE multifilament yarn (UHMW-PE=Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) (synonymously also referred to as multifilament yarn) is used, which in addition to a defined titre (synonymously also referred to as fineness or yarn fineness) has a multiplicity of UHMW-PE individual filaments (synonymously also referred to as individual filaments), wherein the individual filaments for forming the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn have a plurality of UHMW-PE individual filaments (synonymously also referred to as individual filaments). (UHMW-PE=Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) (synonymously also referred to as multifilament yarn) which, in addition to a defined titre (synonymously also referred to as fineness or yarn fineness), has a multiplicity of UHMW-PE individual filaments (synonymously also referred to as individual filaments), the individual filaments being connected to one another or combined or brought together, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (synonymously also referred to as twisted), in order to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, for example by twisting or twisting together the UHMW-PE individual filaments (4).

In this context, the applicant has found in a completely surprising manner that, on the basis of the special measures according to the invention, a textile sheet material is provided which, while at the same time having improved splinter, puncture or cut protection, preferably improved splinter protection, also has improved processing properties (such as improved processing, for example, into protective clothing or protective equipment) and improved application properties (such as improved wearing comfort in the case of use as protective clothing). Furthermore, the production of the textile sheet material as such is also improved, in particular since the special UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has improved bending or flexibility properties, which is conducive, for example, to the preferred formation of the material as a knitted fabric, as will be indicated in detail below. Due to the high pliability or flexibility of the special multifilament yarn, the pliability or flexibility of the resulting textile sheet material according to the invention is also improved at the same time, which is equally accompanied by positive effects for the wearing comfort in the case of use as protective clothing as well as the adaptability to objects or articles to be protected in the case of use as protective equipment. Furthermore, the use of a very special UHMW-PE multifilament yarn leads to improved splinter, puncture or cut protection, preferably improved splinter protection, of the resulting textile sheet material, since the special multifilament yarn itself has improved stability properties.

Without wishing to be limited to this theory, the improved properties of the textile sheet material, both in terms of stability and flexibility and the improved manufacturing and processing properties, can also be attributed decisively to the special UHMW-PE multifilament yarn with its special formation on the basis of a multiplicity of UHMW-PE individual filaments, which are combined or twisted together in the multifilament yarn, for example by means of twists, and form the multifilament yarn as such.

According to the invention, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is or consists of individual UHMW-PE filaments which are combined by twisting (twisting together) to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn (individual yarn).

In this case, the stability and flexibility or pliability properties of the resulting multifilament yarn are primarily improved by the fact that the UHMW-PE individual filaments are present in the multifilament yarn in a twisted form, so to speak, as a result of being twisted or twisted together.

This increases the pliability of the multifilament yarn itself, since the overall mobility of the individual filaments in the multifilament yarn is improved. In addition, the stability is increased, since kinetic energy introduced can be better distributed and dissipated and, moreover, the twisted arrangement also results in mutual reinforcement of the individual filaments.

The improved flexibility of the multifilament yarn due to the twisted arrangement of the individual filaments also leads to advantages with regard to the processing of the underlying multifilament yarn into the textile sheet material according to the invention, according to which the sheet material or the yarn system is preferably formed as a knitted fabric. For in this respect, it is particularly the case that, in particular with regard to the underlying stitches which represent a central element of a knitted fabric, high bends or small curve radii are required with respect to the multifilament yarn, which can be realized in a correspondingly simplified or improved manner as a result of the high pliability or flexibility of the multifilament yarn used according to the invention. In this context, for example, particularly small radii of curvature can be realized when laying the yarn, which also leads to a high yarn density or to a high surface coverage of the textile sheet material with the multifilament yarn, again accompanied by improved ballistic stability.

In this context, it is also completely surprising that the multifilament yarn used according to the invention retains the previously mentioned high pliability or flexibility even at relatively high titers or fineness (which lead to an additional improvement of the stability properties), so that even for relatively heavy yarns or for yarns with a relatively large diameter, there are correspondingly good processing properties and improved product properties with respect to the resulting textile sheet material according to the invention.

Moreover, according to the invention, it behaves in particular in such a way that the textile sheet material according to the invention, in addition to providing excellent protection against splinters, punctures and/or cuts, preferably splinters, further exhibits a protection against shots and/or impacts. Consequently, the textile sheet material according to the invention also exhibits a good protective function, for example, against projectiles originating directly from firearms or the like or against the action of blunt weapons.

As previously indicated, in the context of the present invention, a special multifilament yarn in the form of UHMW-PE or individual filaments in the form of UHMW-PE is used to form a multifilament yarn. In this connection, the applicant has equally found, quite surprisingly, that the use of such a special material is also particularly suitable for forming the textile sheet material according to the invention from the fact that ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in the form of multifilament yarns has a very high tensile strength as well as a high tensile strength, a high breaking or bending strength and a very high modulus of elasticity. Moreover, UHMW-PE is resistant to moisture and UV radiation, which equally results in the sheet materials provided according to the invention having a high resistance to water (washing resistance), accompanied by a high durability of the ballistic protection function, in particular also in direct sunlight, as previously indicated. Furthermore, the UHMW-PE exhibits very good chemical resistance as well as excellent bacterial resistance, as equally indicated before.

According to the invention, a sheet material is provided which, in a purposeful manner, in addition to efficient stab and cut protection, also primarily has a high level of splinter protection, in particular against splinters released by detonation or explosion, such as are released or caused explosively in the form of primary or secondary splinters during the explosion of unconventional explosive devices.

The term “fragment protection”, as used in accordance with the invention, is to be understood very broadly and refers in particular to the provision of a protective function against the penetration or ingress of ballistic bodies or projectiles released directly or indirectly by detonation or explosion. This refers in particular to the provision of a protective function against the penetration or penetration of ballistic bodies or projectiles released directly or indirectly by detonation or explosion, in particular in the form of fragments which are characterized in particular by small particle sizes and by an irregular shape and which are released explosively in the form of primary and/or secondary fragments, in particular during the detonation of unconventional explosive devices, and which strike the persons exposed to a detonation with high velocity or kinetic energy. According to the invention, the terms “stab protection” and “cut protection” are to be understood very broadly, the aforementioned terms referring in particular to the further provision of a protective function against the (force) action of stabbing or cutting weapons or pointed or sharp objects.

Furthermore, the term “twisting”, synonymously also referred to as “twisting”, or “twisted” or the like, as used in the context of the present invention, is to be understood very broadly. More particularly, in the context of the present invention, the term in question refers to the twisting together of individual filaments to form the multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, in particular such that the multifilament yarns used in accordance with the invention are preferably in the form of twisted yarns, based on the individual filaments underlying the multifilament yarn. According to the invention, the term “twisting” or “twisted” or the like is understood to be synonymous with the twisting together or twisting together (with respect to one another) of individual filaments provided according to the invention in order to form the multifilament yarn used according to the invention.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings or figures illustrating preferred examples of embodiments or embodiments. In connection with the explanation of these preferred embodiments of the present invention, which however are in no way limiting with respect to the present invention, further advantages, properties, aspects and features of the present invention are also shown.

In the figure representations shows:

FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a structure of the textile sheet material according to the invention according to an embodiment according to the invention, according to which the textile sheet material is formed as knitted fabric, preferably as knitted fabric or as knitted fabric, wherein the textile sheet material or the textile knitted fabric is additionally provided with binding elements in the form of floats;

FIG. 1A a detail enlargement of FIG. 1 showing a further illustrative embodiment of the UMHW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, according to which the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is formed from UHMW-PE individual filaments which are brought together or twisted together to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn;

FIG. 1B an enlarged section again of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, with the illustrative formation of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn based on UHMW-PE individual filaments;

FIG. 2 a further schematic representation of a structure of the textile sheet material according to the invention according to an embodiment according to the invention, according to which the textile sheet material is formed as knitted fabric, specifically as knitted fabrics, wherein the textile sheet material or the textile knitted fabric is additionally provided with binding elements in the form of wefts (weft threads);

FIG. 2A a detail enlargement of FIG. 2 showing a further illustrative embodiment of the UMHW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, according to which the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is formed from UHMW-PE individual filaments which are brought together or twisted together to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn;

FIG. 2B an enlarged section again of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn used in accordance with the invention, with the illustrative formation of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn based on UHMW-PE individual filaments;

FIG. 3 a scanning electron microscope magnification representation of a textile sheet material according to the invention in plain view, wherein the sheet material according to the invention is formed as a textile knitted fabric;

FIG. 4 a light microscopic magnified view of the textile sheet material according to the invention in plain view, wherein the textile sheet material is equally formed as a knitted fabric.

The figure representations according to FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B as well as 3 and 4 thereby also clarify in particular the first aspect of the present invention according to the invention, according to which namely a textile sheet material (sheet structure) 1 with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, is provided in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment, preferably for the military and/or civilian sector,

wherein the textile sheet material 1 comprises or consists of at least one yarn system 2 forming the textile sheet material 1, in particular a multifilament yarn system,

wherein the yarn system 2 comprises or is formed from at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from a plurality of at least substantially identical and/or mutually at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are connected to one another and/or combined with one another and/or brought together and/or combined, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (twisted), to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3, preferably by twisting (twisting together) the UHMW-PE individual filaments (4) to one another, and

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count) of at least 150 dtex.

As indicated above, based on the present invention, a special textile sheet material is provided which, in the case of application, both with the use in protective clothing for the protection of persons in use and with the use in protective equipment for the protection of objects, such as, for example, military equipment or military apparatus, reduces or prevents the penetration or impact of splinters, which also applies to the impact of cutting and stabbing weapons and, in addition, also to impact weapons, with respect to the persons or objects protected with the textile sheet material in the long term. The use of the textile sheet material in protective clothing for the protection of persons in action as well as in protective equipment for the protection of objects, such as military equipment or military devices, reduces or prevents the penetration or the effect of splinters, which also applies to the effect of cutting and stabbing weapons as well as to impact weapons, with respect to the persons or objects protected by the textile sheet material, which is ensured in particular by the special properties of the sheet material according to the invention, as will be further detailed in the following.

In this context, the textile sheet material according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the underlying UHMW-PE multifilament yarn consists of or is formed from a plurality of specially formed and arranged UHMW-PE individual filaments. In this regard, reference can be made in particular to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B or to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B with the respective detail enlargement from FIG. 1 or from FIG. 2 and, in addition, also to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 .

In accordance with the invention, it also behaves in particular in such a way that the textile sheet material as such and/or the yarn system forming the sheet material is formed exclusively on the basis of or consists of the at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, the multifilament yarn in turn being formed from or consisting of UHMW-PE individual filaments. According to the invention, it is thus particularly provided that the textile sheet material according to the invention as such and/or the yarn system forming the textile sheet material comprises, in addition to the at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, at least substantially no multifilament yarn different therefrom or yarn different therefrom as such. In particular, it also behaves with respect to the textile sheet material according to the invention in such a way that it does not comprise any yarns based on aramides (such as para-amides or meta-aramides) or the like. In this way, the material properties can be further improved. In particular, the textile material according to the invention has, in addition to high stability as a result of the use of a special UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, high resistance, in particular to moisture and UV-radiation. Consequently, the protective function provided is also guaranteed over long periods of time.

Thereby, according to the invention, it is particularly provided that UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from at least 5 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular at least 10 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably at least 20 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably at least 40 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, more preferably at least 60 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, very particularly preferably at least 80 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4.

In this respect, according to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of at most 500 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular at most 400 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably at most 300 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably at most 200 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, particularly preferably at most 160 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, very particularly preferably at most 120 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4.

In particular, it behaves according to the invention in such a way that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of 5 to 500 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular 10 to 400 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 20 to 300 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 40 to 200 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, particularly preferably 60 to 160 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, very particularly preferably 80 to 120 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4.

In particular, the defined number of individual filaments 4 leads to the formation of the multifilament yarn with a corresponding increase in stability, since the kinetic energy associated with or acting on the impact of splinters, for example, can be better absorbed and distributed.

Furthermore, the titre (synonymously also as fineness) of the UHMW-PE filaments 4 used in accordance with the invention to form the multifilament yarn 3 is also of great importance, the following values or ranges having proved to be particularly advantageous with regard to the provision of a high stability on the one hand and a high pliability or flexibility on the other hand of the resulting multifilament yarn 3:

Thus, according to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2060 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 2060:1995-04), each have a titer (fineness) of at least 0.2 dtex, in particular at least 0.5 dtex, preferably at least 0.8 dtex, preferably at least 1 dtex, more preferably at least 1.2 dtex, very particularly preferably at least 1.5 dtex.

In addition, it may be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2060, each have a titre (fineness) of at most 30 dtex, in particular at most 10 dtex, preferably at most 5 dtex, preferably at most 3 dtex, particularly preferably at most 2.8 dtex, very particularly preferably at most 2.5 dtex.

In particular, it behaves within the scope of the present invention in such a way that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2060, each have a titer (fineness) in the range from 0.2 dtex to 30 dtex, in particular in the range from 0.5 dtex to 10 dtex, preferably in the range from 0.8 dtex to 5 dtex, preferably in the range from 1 dtex to 3 dtex, particularly preferably in the range from 1.2 dtex to 2.8 dtex, very particularly preferably in the range from 1.5 dtex to 2.5 dtex.

Furthermore, it may also be provided in the context of the present invention that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 have at least substantially identical titers (fineness) to one another. In this respect, any deviation of the respective titers (fineness) with respect to each other may be at most 10%, in particular at most 5%, preferably at most 3%, preferably at most 1%, with respect to the smaller value. In this context, the use of individual filaments 4 having fineness that are at least substantially identical to one another leads to the formation of a particularly homogeneous multifilament yarn 3, which equally benefits the stability of the multifilament yarn 3 and thus also of the textile sheet material 1 according to the invention.

Furthermore, it may be provided in the context of the present invention that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 each have a diameter of at least 7.5 μm, in particular at least 10 μm, preferably at least 12.5 μm, preferably at least 15 μm, more preferably at least 17.5 μm.

Similarly, it may be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 each have a diameter of at most 50 μm, in particular at most 45 μm, preferably at most 40 μm, preferably at most 30 μm, particularly preferably at most 22.5 μm.

In this context, it is particularly envisaged according to the invention that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 each have a diameter in the range from 7.5 μm to 50 μm, in particular in the range from 10 μm to 45 μm, preferably in the range from 12.5 μm to 40 μm, preferably in the range from 15 μm to 30 μm, particularly preferably in the range from 17.5 μm to 22.5 μm.

In the context of the present invention, it has proved advantageous in this respect if the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 have at least substantially identical diameters to one another. In this respect, any deviation of the respective diameters from one another may be at most 10%, in particular at most 5%, preferably at most 3%, preferably at most 1%, relative to the smaller value.

According to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are formed at least substantially entirely from UHMW-PE or consist thereof. In particular, according to the invention, it also behaves in such a way that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 comprise at least substantially no further ingredients and/or components, in particular no adhesives or the like, in addition to UHMW-PE.

According to the invention, it has proven advantageous if the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are each formed as continuous filaments. This leads to a further improvement in the stability of the multifilament yarn obtained therefrom, in particular also with regard to its maximum tensile strength or maximum tensile elongation.

With regard to the arrangement of the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 for forming the multi-filament yarn 3, in accordance with the invention it is in particular as indicated in the following, whereby in this respect reference can also be made to the illustrative representation according to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B or FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B as well as further to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 :

Thus, according to the invention, it is particularly provided that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 for forming the multifilament yarn 3 are twisted (twisted) and/or twisted together and/or twisted among (each other), preferably twisted together and/or twisted among (each other). In particular, according to the invention, it may be the case that the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 for forming the multifilament yarn 3 are arranged in the multifilament yarn 3 twisted and/or twisted together and/or twisted among (each other), preferably twisted together and/or twisted among (each other).

In general, according to the invention, it may be particularly the case that the respective UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are at least substantially not twisted within themselves, or that an individual UHMW-PE individual filament 4 is at least substantially not twisted within itself. It also follows that there is no excessive tension in the respective individual filaments themselves, which is beneficial to stability as well as flexibility overall.

With regard to the formation of the multifilament yarn 3 based on the specific number, type and/or arrangement of the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, the measures according to the invention also lead to a further increase in the ballistic stability of the resulting multifilament yarn 3. In particular, the defined number of filaments, the defined fineness, the defined diameter, the special arrangement of the filaments on the basis of the target- and purpose-oriented twisting together and/or the uniform formation of the individual filaments 4 leads to an improvement in the ballistic stability, in particular since—without wishing to be limited to this theory—impinging kinetic energy (such as is introduced, for example, by the impact of splinters or the like) can be absorbed and dissipated to an improved extent. At the same time, a high degree of pliability or flexibility of the multifilament yarn 3 is ensured. Consequently, the multifilament yarn used according to the invention combines the diametrical properties of high stability on the one hand and high pliability on the other hand in one and the same material, which is also reflected in the sheet material 1 based thereon according to the invention, as previously indicated.

According to the invention, it is particularly provided that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 is twisted and/or twisted. In this context, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may be twisted and/or turned in the Z-direction or in the S-direction, preferably in the Z-direction.

In general, it may be provided in the context of the present invention that the multifilament yarn 3 has a yarn and/or thread twist, in particular yarn twist, of at least 60 T/m (turns per meter) in the Z-direction or in the S-direction, preferably in the Z-direction, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2061 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 2061:2015-12), in particular at least 65 T/m, preferably at least 70 T/m, preferably at least 75 T/m. In this respect, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 can have a yarn and/or thread twist, in particular yarn at most 140 T/m (twists per meter), in particular at most 120 T/m, preferably at most 100 T/m, preferably at most 90 T/m, in the Z-direction or in the S-direction, preferably in the Z-direction, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2061.

Thus, within the scope of the present invention, it behaves in particular such that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a yarn and/or thread twist, in particular yarn twist, in the Z-direction or in the S-direction, preferably in the Z-direction, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2061, in the range from 60 T/m to 140 T/m (twists per meter), in particular in the range from 65 T/m to 120 T/m, preferably in the range from 70 T/m to 100 T/m, preferably in the range from 75 T/m to 90 T/m.

The aforementioned values refer in particular to the rotation of the individual filaments 4 relative to one another or in their entirety in the multifilament yarn 3.

In this respect, the applicant has found, in a completely surprising way, that the previously indicated values of the twist of the multifilament yarn 3 leads to a further optimization of the ballistic stability and thus of the ballistic protection properties. In this context, the special twist (which is present as a result of the twisting) leads to particularly good stability properties, since also on this basis—without wishing to be limited to this theory—an improved distribution of kinetic energy introduced by the impact of, for example, splinters within the multifilament yarn 3 is ensured. In addition, this also further improves the pliability or flexibility.

Consequently, the specific adjustment of the twisting or twisting together of the individual filaments on the basis of the aforementioned values leads to a further optimization also with respect to the flexibility or pliability of the resulting textile sheet material 1 according to the invention. Similarly, this also improves the processing properties.

In addition, the fineness of the multifilament yarn 3 used according to the invention is also of corresponding importance:

Thus, according to the invention, it may be provided that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count), in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2060 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 2060:1995-04), of at least 155 dtex, in particular at least 160 dtex, preferably at least 180 dtex, preferably at least 190 dtex, particularly preferably at least 195 dtex.

In this context, it may also be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count), in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2060, of at most 450 dtex, in particular at most 400 dtex, preferably at most 350 dtex, preferably at most 300 dtex, particularly preferably at most 260 dtex.

In summary, it thus behaves in particular in such a way that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn fineness), in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2060, in the range from 155 dtex to 450 dtex, in particular in the range from 160 dtex to 400 dtex, preferably in the range from 180 dtex to 350 dtex, preferably in the range from 190 dtex to 300 dtex, particularly preferably in the range from 195 dtex to 275 dtex, very particularly preferably in the range from 195 dtex to 260 dtex.

As previously indicated, the aforementioned (yarn) fineness of the multifilament yarn 3 are accompanied by a particularly high ballistic stability, while at the same time ensuring a high flexibility or pliability of the multifilament yarn 3.

In the context of the present invention, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may further have a diameter of at least 30 μm, in particular at least 60 μm, preferably at least 90 μm, preferably at least 120 μm, more preferably at least 125 μm.

In this regard, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may have a diameter of at most 750 μm, in particular at most 500 μm, preferably at most 400 μm, preferably at most 300 μm, particularly preferably at most 200 μm.

Consequently, it may be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a diameter in the range from 30 μm to 750 μm, in particular in the range from 60 μm to 500 μm, preferably in the range from 90 μm to 400 μm, preferably in the range from 120 μm to 300 μm, particularly preferably in the range from 125 μm to 200 μm.

In general, the diameter of the multifilament yarn 3 and also of the individual filaments 4 can be determined by methods known per se to the skilled person, for example on the basis of optical or light microscopic or electron microscopic methods.

In general, the multifilament yarn 3 used according to the invention is also characterized by the following properties:

Thus, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may have a fineness-related maximum tensile strength, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2062 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 2062:2009-12), of at least 50 cN/tex, in particular at least 100 cN/tex, preferably at least 150 cN/tex, preferably at least 200 cN/tex, particularly preferably at least 300 cN/tex.

In this respect, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may have a fineness-related maximum tensile strength, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2062, of at most 750 cN/tex, in particular at most 600 cN/tex, preferably at most 500 cN/tex, preferably at most 450 cN/tex, particularly preferably at most 400 cN/tex.

In general, it can thus be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a fineness-related maximum tensile strength, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2062, in the range from 50 cN/tex to 750 cN/tex, in particular in the range from 100 cN/tex to 600 cN/tex, preferably in the range from 150 cN/tex to 500 cN/tex, preferably in the range from 200 cN/tex to 450 cN/tex, particularly preferably in the range from 300 cN/tex to 400 cN/tex.

Similarly, it may be provided according to the invention that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a maximum tensile elongation, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2062 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 2062:2009-12), of at least 1%, in particular at least 1.5%, preferably at least 2%, preferably at least 3%, particularly preferably at least 3.25%.

In addition, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 can have a maximum tensile elongation, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 2062, of at most 9%, in particular at most 7%, preferably at most 5%, preferably at most 4%, particularly preferably at most 3.75%.

According to the invention, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may thus in particular have a maximum tensile elongation, in particular determined according to DIN EN ISO 2062, in the range from 1% to 9%, in particular in the range from 1.5% to 7%, preferably in the range from 2% to 5%, preferably in the range from 3% to 4%, particularly preferably in the range from 3.25% to 3.75%.

Further, in the context of the present invention, it may be such that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a modulus of elasticity in the range of 55 N/tex to 295 N/tex, more particularly 80 N/tex to 245 N/tex, preferably 110 N/tex to 190 N/tex.

In particular, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may have a density in the range of 825 kg/m³ to 1,175 kg/m3, in particular 850 kg/m³ to 1,150 kg/m3, preferably 900 kg/m³ to 1,100 kg/m³, preferably 925 kg/m³ to 1,000 kg/m³, more preferably 975 kg/m³ to 995 kg/m³.

Similarly, the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 may have a crystallinity in the range of 75% to 95%, in particular 77.5% to 92.5%, preferably 80% to 90%, more preferably 82.5% to 85%. The crystallinity values refer in particular to the underlying ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE).

According to the invention, it is in particular provided that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 does not comprise any other components or constituents, in particular different from UHMW-PE, in addition to the components comprising UHMW-PE, in particular in addition to the UHMW-PE individual filaments. According to the invention, it thus behaves in particular in such a way that the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 contains UHMW-PE in an amount of 100% by weight, based on the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3, and thus consists of UHMW-PE, and in particular based on the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 used according to the invention.

In general, commercially available or commercially available products may be used in the context of the present invention with respect to the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3. In particular, corresponding products ® available under the name Dyneema, such as Dyneema®SK75 (220 dtex) or Dyneema®BK75 (220 dtex) may be used.

With regard to the sheet material 1 or the yarn system 2, it can be provided according to the invention that, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the sheet material 1 or the yarn system 2, in particular the sheet material 1, is formed in the form of a textile knitted fabric or is present as a textile knitted fabric. In this context, the sheet material 1 or the yarn system 2, in particular the sheet material 1, may have a plurality of meshes 5 on the one hand and optionally at least one binding element 6 different therefrom on the other hand.

Consequently, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheet material 1 or the yarn system 2 is thus in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, namely on the basis of a plurality of stitches 5 as the basic element forming the knitted fabric. Thereby, in the context of a further embodiment according to the present invention, it can be provided that the sheet material 1 present as a textile knitted fabric or the yarn system 2 relating thereto is additionally equipped with binding elements 6 different therefrom (i.e. from the meshes 5), as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , respectively.

In general, the specific design of the textile sheet material 1 or of the yarn system 2 as a textile knitted fabric is associated with the central advantage that an elastic, stretchable, supple and flexible sheet material is provided overall, which, in the case of use as protective clothing, improves the wearing comfort with a high fit accuracy, whereby excellent wear physiological properties are also provided in this respect. In addition, with regard to the use of the support material 1 according to the invention as protective equipment, the specific design as a knitted fabric leads to a particularly good adaptation with respect to objects or items to be protected. In this context, the previously mentioned positive properties associated with the formation as a knitted fabric are further improved by the specific formation of the multifilament yarn 3, in particular on the basis of a plurality of defined individual filaments 4. The construction of the sheet material 1 or of the yarn system 2 in the form of a textile knitted fabric is also accompanied by the advantage that the resulting sheet material 1 according to the invention can be compressed and folded, for example, without damaging the material structure, the material being capable of resuming its original shape in a corresponding manner after relief. Again, this maintains the overall durability of the sheet material 1 according to the invention and the associated level of protection.

According to the invention, it thus behaves overall in such a way that the underlying mesh structure of the sheet material 1 according to the invention or of the yarn system 2 further supports or further improves the ballistic properties and thus the protective function provided according to the invention, in particular due to the formation of a firm (mesh) composite.

In this context, it has proved advantageous according to the invention if the sheet material 1 and/or the yarn system 2, in particular the sheet material 1, is/are in the form of a knitted fabric and/or a knitted fabric, in particular a warp knitted fabric and/or a weft knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, or if the sheet material 1 and/or the yarn system 2 is/are in the form of a knitted fabric (knitted fabric) and/or a warp knitted fabric (knitted fabric), in particular a warp knitted fabric and/or a weft knitted fabric, preferably a knitted fabric.

According to the invention, it has been found to be particularly advantageous if the sheet material 1 or the yarn system 2, in particular the sheet material 1, is in the form of a knitted fabric or is present as knitted fabrics.

In particular, the textile knitted fabric, especially in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a grounding selected from the group consisting of fringe, tricot, cloth, satin, velvet and satin.

Similarly, it may be provided according to the invention that the textile knitted fabric, in particular in the form of a knitted fabric, has a RIGHT/LEFT (RL), RIGHT/RIGHT (RR) or LEFT/LEFT (LL) stitch weave, preferably a RIGHT/RIGHT (RR) stitch weave.

In general, the textile knitted fabric may be in the form of a knitted jersey and/or interlock knitted fabric, in particular interlock knitted fabric, and/or preferably in the form of a jersey and/or interlock knitted fabric, preferably interlock knitted fabric.

Moreover, the knitted textile fabric, in particular in the form of a knitted fabric, may have at least one ribbed structure. In particular, the textile knitted fabric, in particular in the form of a knitted fabric, may have rib-like elevations, preferably longitudinal ribs. In this context, it may be provided in particular that the rib-like elevations, in particular the longitudinal ribs, extend and/or are arranged at least substantially rectilinearly or parallel to one another.

The rib-like protrusions can be formed in particular in the course of manufacturing the textile sheet material 1 on the basis of a special stitch formation. The corresponding manufacturing processes are well known to the skilled person, so that no further explanations are required in this respect.

In the context of the present invention, it may further be provided that the textile knitted fabric, in particular in the form of a knitted fabric, is formed as an interlock knitted fabric with needle tension, for example as a 1:1 rib or 2:1 cylinder, or is produced on this basis.

As schematically shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , respectively, it may be provided in accordance with the invention with respect to the formation of the sheet material 1 and the yarn system 2, respectively, in the context of the present invention that the knitted fabric additionally comprises at least one binding element 6 different from the loop 5. In this respect, the binding element 6 may be selected from the group consisting of a heddle, float (floatation), weft, partial weft and standing yarn, preferably a heddle and float (floatation). In this regard, FIG. 1 schematically shows the formation of binding elements 6 in the form of floats. In addition, FIG. 2 schematically shows the formation of binding elements 6 in the form of wefts.

In general, it may be provided according to the invention that the binding element 6 is formed or present in the form of a handle and/or a float (floatation). Particularly preferably, the binding element 6 is in the form of a float.

In this regard, it is possible in the context of the present invention that the binding element 6 is formed from the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 and/or a separate and/or different further UHMW-PE multifilament yarn from the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3.

Through the use of special binding elements 6, the mechanical or ballistic stability or integrity of the sheet material 1 is further improved—as the applicant has equally found in a completely surprising manner.

According to the invention, it is advantageous if the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a weight per unit area, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN 12 127:1997, of at least 80 g/m², in particular at least 100 g/m², preferably at least 150 g/m², preferably at least 200 g/m², particularly preferably at least 220 g/m².

In particular, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, can have a weight per unit area, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN 12 127:1997, of at most 1,000 g/m², in particular at most 750 g/m², preferably at most 500 g/m², preferably at most 350 g/m², particularly preferably at most 305 g/m².

Consequently, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a weight per unit area, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN 12 127:1997, in the range from 80 g/m² to 1,000 g/m², in particular in the range from 100 g/m² to 750 g/m², preferably in the range from 150 g/m² to 500 g/m², preferably in the range from 200 g/m² to 350 g/m², particularly preferably in the range from 220 g/m² to 305 g/m².

By setting or specifying a special weight per unit area, as described above, the protective function is further optimized, in particular against the penetration or impact of splinters, while at the same time a high flexibility or pliability of the sheet material is also ensured, which benefits in particular the wearing comfort when used as protective clothing and the adaptability to objects to be protected or objects in the case of use as protective equipment.

In the context of the present invention, a further increase in stability can also be achieved by the sheet material 1 having a particular thickness. Thus, in the context of the present invention, it is particularly envisaged that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a thickness in the range from 0.1 mm to 50 mm, in particular from 0.2 mm to 25 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm to 15 mm, preferably from 0.4 mm to 10 mm, more preferably from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, most preferably from 0.6 mm to 2.5 mm.

In the context of the present invention, the setting of a specific density of mesh bars or of mesh rows in the sheet material 1 is also of great importance:

Thus, according to the invention, it has been found advantageous if the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a number and/or density of mesh wales (mesh wales/cm) in the range from 2 to 25 mesh wales/cm, in particular in the range from 4 to 20 mesh wales/cm, preferably in the range from 5 to 17 mesh wales/cm, preferably in the range from 6 to 15 mesh wales/cm.

Moreover, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a number and/or density of courses (courses/cm) in the range from 2 to 40 courses/cm, in particular in the range from 5 to 30 courses/cm, preferably in the range from 8 to 25, preferably in the range from 10 to 23 courses/cm.

By setting special densities with respect to the wales as well as the courses of the textile sheet material 1 according to the invention, the surface coverage of the material as a whole is further improved with the multifilament yarn 3, which equally leads to a further improvement also of the ballistic stability.

In addition, the sheet material 1 according to the invention is also characterized in particular by the following properties:

Thus, the sheet material 1 according to the invention, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 (i.e. DIN 53835-14:1992-11) and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, independently of one another, of at least 2%, in particular at least 5%, preferably at least 7%, preferably at least 10%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

In addition, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, independently of one another, of at most 50%, in particular at most 40%, preferably at most 35%, preferably at most 30%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

In particular, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, can have a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, independently of one another, in the range from 2% to 50%, in particular in the range from 5% to 40%, preferably in the range from 7% to 35%, preferably in the range from 10% to 30%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

In addition, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal direction of at least 1%, in particular at least 1.5%, preferably at least 2%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal direction of at most 10%, in particular at most 7%, preferably at most 5%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

In particular, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the longitudinal direction in the range from 1% to 10%, in particular in the range from 1.5% to 7%, preferably in the range from 2% to 5%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

In addition, it may also be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the transverse direction of at least 5%, in particular at least 10%, preferably at least 15%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

Likewise, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the transverse direction of at most 50%, in particular at most 40%, preferably at most 35%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

According to the invention, it may also be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a total extensibility (total elongation), in particular determined in accordance with DIN 53835-14 and/or in particular determined at 20 N, in the transverse direction in the range from 5% to 50%, in particular in the range from 10% to 40%, preferably in the range from 15% to 35%, in particular relative to the unstretched state of the sheet material 1.

As previously indicated, the sheet material according to the invention exhibits excellent protective properties with respect to providing a corresponding splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably splinter protection. Against this background, the sheet material 1 according to the invention exhibits in particular excellent ballistic protection values, as indicated below:

Thus, in the context of the present invention, it particularly behaves in such a way that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a shatter and/or ballistic protection value V₅₀, determined according to STANAG 2920, of at least 185 m/s, in particular at least 200 m/s, preferably at least 230 m/s, preferably at least 275 m/s, particularly preferably at least 305 m/s, very particularly preferably at least 320 m/s, further preferably at least 325 m/s, still further preferably at least 330 m/s.

In this context, it also behaves according to the invention in such a way that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a shatter and/or ballistic protection value V₅₀, determined according to STANAG 2920, in a range from 185 m/s to 900 m/s, in particular in a range from 200 m/s to 800 m/s, preferably in a range from 230 m/s to 700 m/s, preferably in a range from 275 m/s to 650 m/s, particularly preferably in a range from 305 m/s to 600 m/s, very particularly preferably in a range from 320 m/s to 575 m/s, further preferably in a range from 325 m/s to 550 m/s, still further preferably 330 m/s to 530 m/s.

The splinter and/or ballistic protection values V₅₀, determined according to STANAG 2920, refer in particular to a determination using projectiles in the form of RCCs with a projectile weight of 0.13 g or 2 grain (2 grain RCC) (with RCC=Right Circular Cylinder). The ballistic protection values V₅₀ indicated in accordance with STANAG 2920 are determined in particular at a temperature of (20±2) ° C. and in particular at a relative humidity of (65±4) %, in particular at a weight per unit area of the sheet material 1 of 240 g/m².

In this context, the high protective properties of the protective clothing unit according to the invention are ensured by the V₅₀-value according to STANAG 2920 of at least 185 m/s specified according to the invention. This value is achieved even in the case of a single-layer design of the sheet material 1 or in the case of the single-layer sheet material 1 as such, thus in relation to one layer.

The V₅₀ value refers in particular to the speed (m/s) at which, using a defined projectile and selected (test) material, there is a probability of perforation or penetration of the material caused by the projectile of 0.5 (where 1 equals maximum probability) or of 50%. For further details, reference can be made to the corresponding standard according to STANAG 2920.

Thus, according to the invention, a high level of ballistic shatter protection is provided overall, so that increased protection against shrapnel is provided on this basis, particularly with respect to unconventional explosive devices (and with respect to both primary and secondary shrapnel).

Due to the excellent splinter protection properties, the risk of injury of a wearer in this respect is reduced in case of use as protective clothing, also with regard to a confrontation with an explosion of unconventional explosive devices. In particular, on the basis of the conception according to the invention, an effective protection of physiologically relevant body sections can be ensured, in particular also with regard to the arterial or venous system. Moreover, a correspondingly high protective function is also present in the case of use of the sheet material 1 according to the invention as protective equipment with respect to objects, objects or equipment to be protected, such as military equipment or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the sheet material 1 according to the invention, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have been provided with a hydrophilic finish or subjected to hydrophilization. In this context, the use of at least one hydrophilizing agent is particularly contemplated in this regard.

According to the invention, it may thus be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, is treated or provided with or acted upon by at least one hydrophilizing agent.

In this context, the hydrophilization and/or the treatment and/or finishing and/or application of the hydrophilizing agent may have been carried out for the purposes of (i) improving and/or increasing the absorption and/or transport of moisture and/or (ii) improving and/or reducing the static charge and/or improving and/or increasing the dissipation of static charge resulting in particular from friction and/or (iii) improving and/or reducing the build-up and/or soiling and/or (iv) improving and/or increasing the removal of soiling, in particular during washing and/or cleaning.

Due to the special hydrophilic properties, for example, the wearing comfort can be improved in the case of use as protective clothing, since moisture originating from a wearer can be better absorbed or removed. In addition, the prevention or reduction of (electro-)static charge is of great importance, also with regard to the protection of, for example, electronic devices which are operated by a wearer of an underlying protective garment or which are protected or covered by the sheet material in the case of use as protective equipment. On the basis of the target- and purpose-oriented hydrophilization, the material properties of the sheet material 1 according to the invention can thus be further adjusted or also specially adjusted or tailored before the respective application or use. In addition, the hydrophilization leads to a better washing behavior, in particular a higher washing resistance, so that the ballistic stability of the material can also be maintained over longer (demanding) periods of time, in particular in synergistic interaction with the use of special multifilament yarns 3 based on UHMW-PE.

Generally speaking, the hydrophilizing agent may be selected from hydrophilizing agents which (i) improve and/or increase moisture absorption and/or moisture transport and/or (ii) improve and/or reduce static charging and/or improve and/or increase the dissipation of static charging resulting in particular from friction and/or (iii) improve and/or reduce soiling and/or contamination and/or (iv) improve and/or increase the removal of soiling, in particular during washing and/or cleaning, in particular with respect to the sheet material 1.

According to the invention, it can be provided in particular that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, in particular as a result of the hydrophilization and/or the treatment and/or finishing and/or application of the hydrophilizing agent and/or in particular in comparison with a corresponding sheet material without hydrophilization and/or without treatment and/or without finishing and/or without application of the hydrophilizing agent, (i) an improved and/or increased moisture absorption and/or an improved and/or increased moisture transport and/or (ii) a reduced static charge and/or an improved and/or increased dissipation of static charge arising in particular from friction and/or (iii) a reduced soiling and/or contamination and/or (iv) an improved and/or increased dirt removal, in particular during washing and/or cleaning.

In particular, the hydrophilizing agent may be selected from the group of (i) polymers based on at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid, in particular polymers based on at least one unsaturated C₃-C₆carboxylic acid, preferably polyacrylic acid, (ii) copolymers of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and comonomers, in particular alkyl acrylates and/or methacrylates, (iii) alkoxylation products, in particular ethoxylation products (oxethylation products), of polymers and/or of alkylphenol derivatives, in particular of polymers, (iv) modified fluoropolymers, in particular in the form of block (co)polymers with hydrophilic sections and/or regions on the one hand and with hydrophobic sections and/or regions on the other hand, preferably with hydrophilic blocks and hydrophobic blocks, and (v) mixtures or combinations thereof. In this regard, the person skilled in the art is at all times able to select and use the specific hydrophilizing agents against the background of the formation of specific properties. For example, hydrophilizing agents in the form of acrylic acid-n-butyl acrylate copolymers or poly[N-methylperfluoro-octanyl-sulfonamido-ethyl acrylate] may be used.

In general, in the context of the present invention, it may be the case that the hydrophilization or treatment or finishing or exposure to the hydrophilizing agent has been carried out by applying and/or generating hydrophilic chemical groups and/or a hydrophilic coating (film), in particular on the surface of the sheet material 1 and/or of the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 and/or of the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4. For this purpose, the previously mentioned hydrophilizing agents may be used. In general, hydrophilization can thus be carried out on the finished material in the form of the textile sheet material 1 according to the invention, and for example before any further processing or cutting, for example into or for protective clothing or protective equipment. In addition, the hydrophilization or treatment or finishing or application of the hydrophilizing agent can in principle also be carried out on the resulting protective clothing or protective equipment as such.

For further details on hydrophilization, reference can be made to Rouette, Lexikon für Textilveredelung, Volume 1, 1995, Laumann-Verlag, Dülmen, pages 859-862, keyword: “Hydrophilization” as well as “Hydrophilie von Textilien”.

In this context, the hydrophilicity of the sheet material 1 according to the invention can thus be adjusted or tailored in a target-oriented or purpose-oriented manner. Thus, in the context of the present invention, it can behave in particular in such a way that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a hydrophilicity, determined according to the TEGEWA test, of at most 5 seconds, in particular at most 4 seconds, preferably at most 3 seconds, preferably at most 2 seconds, particularly preferably at most 1 second. Thus, the sheet material 1 according to the invention may have overall hydrophilic properties. The TEGEWA test is used to determine the wettability of the underlying material; in particular, the procedure is such that a corresponding test solution is dropped onto the material to be tested and the penetration or sinking behavior of the applied drop is determined. The determined sinking time represents a measure for the wettability of the material.

As previously indicated, in addition to excellent splinter protection, the sheet material 1 according to the invention also has correspondingly good stab or cut protection properties: thus, according to the invention, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, has a cut and/or stab resistance, in particular according to DIN EN 388 (i.e.i.e. DIN EN 388:2019-03) (section 6.3) and/or according to EN ISO 13997, of at least 1 Newton, in particular at least 2 Newtons, preferably at least 2.5 Newtons, preferably at least 2.9 Newtons.

Further, the sheet material 1 according to the invention, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a tensile strength, in particular according to DIN EN 388, of at least 11 Newtons, in particular at least 13 Newtons, preferably at least 15 Newtons.

In addition, the textile sheet material 1 according to the invention may also be characterized by the following properties:

In particular, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 12947-2 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 12947-2:2017-03) and/or in particular determined at 12 kPa, may have an abrasion resistance of at least 100,000 tours, in particular at least 125,000 tours, preferably at least 150,000 tours.

In addition, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 12947-2 and/or in particular determined at 12 kPa, can have an abrasion resistance of at most 1,000,000 cycles, in particular at most 800,000 cycles, preferably at most 500,000 cycles.

Finally, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 12947-2 and/or in particular determined at 12 kPa, can have an abrasion resistance in the range from 100,000 tours to 1,000,000 tours, in particular in the range from 125,000 tours to 800,000 tours, preferably in the range from 150,000 tours to 500,000 tours.

Furthermore, the sheet material 1 according to the invention, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may be gas-permeable, preferably air-permeable. This increases, for example, the wearing comfort in the case of use as protective clothing. Moreover, in the case of use as protective equipment, for example the formation of condensate or the like is avoided or reduced, so that devices or objects to be protected are not unnecessarily exposed to excessive moisture.

In this context, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, can have a gas permeability, preferably air permeability, in particular determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9237 (i.e. DIN EN ISO 9237:1995-12) and/or in-particular determined at 100 Pa, of at least 100 l/m²*s, in particular at least 300 l/m²*s, preferably at least 500 l/m²*s, preferably at least 800 l/m²*s, particularly preferably at least 1,000 l/m²*s, very particularly preferably at least 1,100 l/m²*s.

In particular, the sheet material 1, especially in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, can have a gas permeability, preferably air permeability, especially determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9237 and/or especially determined at 100 Pa, in the range from 100 l/m²*s to 5.000 l/m²*s, in particular in the range from 300 l/m²*s to 4,000 l/m²*s, preferably in the range from 500 l/m²*s to 3,500 l/m²*s, preferably in the range from 800 l/m²*s to 3,000 l/m²*s, particularly preferably in the range from 1,000 l/m²*s to 2,500 l/m²*s, very particularly preferably in the range from 1,100 l/m²*s to 2,000 l/m²*s.

In addition, it may be provided according to the invention that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, is formed to be permeable to water vapor.

In particular, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have a water vapor transmission resistance R_(et) under steady-state conditions, in particular determined in accordance with ISO 11092, of at most 18 (m²*Pascal)/Watt, in particular at most 14 (m²*Pascal)/Watt, preferably at most 9 (m²*Pascal)/Watt, particularly preferably at most 4 (m²*Pascal)/Watt

This ensures a particularly high level of wearer comfort, as body perspiration can be effectively transported away.

The water vapor transmission resistance R_(et) can be measured in particular in accordance with DIN EN 31 092:1993 or the international standard ISO 11092 of February 1994 (“Textiles—physiological effects, measurement of thermal and water vapor transmission resistance under stationary conditions (sweating guarded-hotplate test)”).

Finally, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, may have, after washing treatment, a dimensional change in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, independently of one another, of at most 15%, in particular at most 12%, preferably at most 10%, preferably at most 8%, in particular relative to the untreated state of the sheet material 1.

In this context, the relevant properties may be determined in particular in accordance with DIN EN ISO 5077:2008. In particular, a washing treatment may be carried out in this respect, in particular according to DIN EN ISO 6330:2013, washing method 6N, washing machine type A1, in particular using soft water and in particular about 20 g of ECE detergent (without bleaching agents and without perborates), drying method A.

In the context of the present invention, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, is combined and/or brought together, in particular joined, with at least one textile material, in particular a sheet material.

In this regard, the sheet-like textile material may have different functional properties than the sheet material 1. For example, the flat textile material may have a further elasticity, in particular wherein in this respect, for example, an application in protective clothing may be considered, wherein the textile material in the wearing state is positioned at such places which are associated with a high body movement, such as for example joints or the like.

According to the invention, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, and the textile material are arranged in a common plane or form a common plane or form a preferably closed plane. In this context, the sheet material 1 can thus form a common base plane or base surface with the sheet textile material, for example with a view to being present as protective clothing or protective equipment.

In general, the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, and the textile material may each be joined to one another at the edges, preferably by means of sewing and/or knitting, welding, gluing or the like, preferably by means of sewing and/or knitting. In this respect, there may also be an edge-side overlapping arrangement with fastening or bonding in this respect.

Also in this respect, according to the invention, it behaves in particular in such a way that for the underlying connection according to a preferred embodiment, for example, no zippers as well as no stapling or the like are used (so that the formation of secondary splinters from such materials is prevented).

According to a further embodiment according to the invention, it may also be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, and the textile material are arranged in different planes or on top of each other or on top of each other. For example, it may be provided that in the case of protective clothing, the sheet material 1 is associated with the wearer in the wearing state, while the textile material is arranged on the side of the sheet material 1 facing away from the wearer in the wearing state. In this context, it may be provided, for example, that the textile material is provided with a camouflage or camouflage design.

According to this embodiment, it may be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric, and the textile material are loosely arranged towards or on top of each other. In contrast, however, it may also be provided that the sheet material 1 and the textile material are joined to one another, preferably joined to one another at the edges, preferably by means of sewing and/or knitting, welding, gluing or the like, preferably by means of sewing and/or knitting.

Also according to this embodiment, it behaves in particular in such a way that the connection is not made by means of zippers or not by means of stapling or the like.

As regards the textile material as such used or employed with the sheet material 1, it may be provided according to the invention that the textile material is gas-permeable, in particular air-permeable, and/or water-vapor-permeable.

In particular, according to the invention, it may be provided that the textile material is in the form of knitted fabric, in particular knitted or crocheted fabric; woven fabric; scrim or textile composite, in particular knitted or woven fabric.

Generally, the textile material may have a basis weight in the range of 60 g/m² to 750 g/m², particularly in the range of 70 g/m² to 525 g/m², preferably in the range of 80 g/m² to 325 g/m², more preferably in the range of 90 g/m² to 275 g/m².

Furthermore, the textile material may comprise at least one type of yarn, twine, thread and/or fiber selected from the group of natural fabrics and synthetic fabrics, preferably selected from the group of cotton; wool; linen; polyesters; polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride; polyvinylidene chloride; acetates, in particular cellulose acetates; triacetates, in particular cellulose triacetates; polyacryl; polyamide; polyvinyl alcohol; polyurethanes; polyvinyl esters; viscose; and mixtures or combinations thereof.

Moreover, according to the invention, it can also be provided in principle that the textile material—in particular in contrast to the sheet material 1—comprises at least substantially no components, in particular no yarns and/or fibers and/or twists and/or threads, based on UHMW-PE.

Generally, the textile material may be formed to be fire resistant and/or flame resistant.

In this context, the textile material may comprise at least one fire-resistant and/or flame-resistant material, in particular in the form of or forming part of a yarn and/or twine and/or thread. In this context, the fire-resistant and/or flame-resistant material may be at least one aramid, in particular meta-aramid. Moreover, the textile material may comprise the fire-resistant and/or flame-retardant material in an amount ranging from 1% to 100% by weight, in particular from 2% to 95% by weight, preferably from 5% to 90% by weight, more preferably from 10% to 85% by weight, based on the textile material.

Similarly, it may be provided that the textile material is antistatic. Generally, the textile material may comprise at least one antistatic material, in particular in the form of or as part of a yarn and/or twine and/or thread.

Moreover, the textile material may be formed to be elastically and/or reversibly stretchable. In this context, the textile material may comprise at least one elastically or reversibly stretchable material, in particular in the form of or as a constituent of a yarn and/or twine and/or thread, in particular based on a synthetic polymer material, preferably based on a block copolymer comprising the constituent's polyurethane and polyethylene glycol.

Moreover, the textile material may comprise the elastically or reversibly stretchable material in an amount in the range of from 1 to 25% by weight, in particular from 2 to 20% by weight, preferably from 2 to 15% by weight, based on the textile material.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it may also be provided that the textile material is provided with a hydrophilic finish or has been subjected to hydrophilization. In this respect, appropriate hydrophilizing agents may be used. In this respect, in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, reference may be made to the above explanations concerning the possibly provided hydrophilization of the sheet material 1, the explanations in this respect applying accordingly to the further textile material.

Furthermore, components, in particular in the form of yarns and/or twines and/or threads, based on cellulose, such as Lenzing®FR, can also be used for the textile material, for example, thereby providing (further) fire or flame protection. Moreover, materials, in particular in the form of yarns and/or twines and/or threads, with elastic or reversibly stretchable properties can be used, for example materials based on spandex, such as Lycra®. Furthermore, materials based on Spandex® can be used.

According to the invention, it may furthermore be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular in the form of the textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of the knitted fabric, and/or the textile material is/are additionally charged with or equipped with an adsorbent adsorbing chemical toxins and/or warfare agents, in particular a material based on activated carbon, preferably in the form of activated carbon particles in grain form (“grain carbon”) or spherical form (“spherical carbon”). In this context, the adsorbent may be fixed to the sheet material 1 and/or to the textile material by means of an adhesive applied in particular discontinuously, preferably in a punctiform manner. On this basis, the sheet material 1 and/or the textile material can be additionally equipped with adsorptive properties in a targeted or purpose-directed manner, so that the sheet material 1 according to the invention has in this respect a further protective function with respect to chemical toxicants and/or warfare agents.

In this context, the average diameter of the adsorbent particles, in particular of the activated carbon particles, may be 0.01 to 2 mm, preferably 0.05 to 1 mm, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The corresponding particle sizes can be determined in particular on the basis of the method according to ASTM D2862-97/04. In addition, the aforementioned particle sizes can be determined using determination methods based on a sieve analysis based on X-ray diffraction, laser diffraction or the like. The respective determination methods are well known to the skilled person as such, so that no further explanations are required in this respect.

Furthermore, the adsorbent particles, in particular the activated carbon particles, may be used in an amount in the range of 40 to 250 g/m², in particular 50 to 180 g/m², preferably 55 to 130 g/m².

In general, the activated carbon may be obtainable by carbonization and subsequent activation of a synthetic or non-natural starting material, in particular based on organic polymers.

In particular, the activated carbon may be obtained from a starting material based on organic polymers, in particular based on sulfonated organic polymers, preferably based on divinylbenzene crosslinked polystyrene, preferably based on styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers, in particular by carbonization and subsequent activation of the starting material. In this context, the content of divinylbenzene in the starting material may be in the range from 1% to 20% by weight, in particular from 1% to 15% by weight, preferably from 1.5% to 12.5% by weight, preferably from 2% to 10% by weight, based on the starting material.

Furthermore, the starting material may be an ion exchange resin, in particular of the gel type, which is in particular sulfonated and/or contains sulfonic acid groups.

In particular, it may be provided according to the invention that the activated carbon used is a polymer-based spherical activated carbon (PBSAC; Polymer-based Spherical Activated Carbon). In particular, the activated carbon can thus be a polymer-based spherical activated carbon (PBSAC).

The activated carbon used can thereby be obtained in principle according to known processes of the prior art: In particular, spherical sulfonated organic polymers, in particular based on divinylbenzene-crosslinked polystyrene, are carbonized for this purpose and then activated to form the activated carbon in question, in particular as previously indicated. For further details in this respect, reference may be made, for example, to the publications DE 43 28 219 A1, DE 43 04 026 A1, DE 196 00 237 A1 and EP 1 918 022 A1 or to the parallel U.S. Pat. No. 7,737,038 B2 belonging to the same patent family, the respective contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.

Activated carbons used in the present invention are generally commercially available or commercially available. In particular, activated carbons may be used which are sold, for example, by Blucher GmbH, Erkrath, Germany.

Consequently, altogether a sheet material 1 according to the invention can be provided which is provided with a multiple protection, namely protection against splinters, punctures or cuts on the one hand and protection against chemical poisons or warfare agents on the other hand.

According to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the sheet material 1, optionally together with the textile material, is a component of or forms a protective article, in particular a protective garment and/or protective equipment.

In this context, it may be provided, for example, that the sheet material 1 is positioned or arranged in the region of a body region to be protected of a wearer of the protective clothing in the case of use in protective clothing in the wearing state, or is arranged in the region of an object to be protected in the case of use in protective equipment (for example, when the sheet material or the protective equipment relating thereto is placed on an object or object to be protected).

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a textile sheet material (sheet material) 1 with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment for the military and/or civilian sector, in particular as previously defined,

wherein the textile sheet material 1 comprises or consists of at least one yarn system 2 forming the textile sheet material 1, in particular a multifilament yarn system,

wherein the yarn system 2 comprises or is formed from at least one UHMW-PE multi filament yarn 3,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from a plurality of at least substantially identical and/or mutually at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are connected to one another and/or combined with one another and/or brought together and/or combined, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (twisted), to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3, preferably by means of twisting (twisting together) the UHMW-PE individual filaments (4) to one another,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from 5 to 500 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular 10 to 400 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 20 to 300 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 40 to 200 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, particularly preferably 60 to 160 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, very particularly preferably 80 to 120 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, and/or wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 each have a linear density (fineness) in the range from 0.2 dtex to 30 dtex, in particular in the range from 0.5 dtex to 10 dtex, preferably in the range from 0.8 dtex to 5 dtex, preferably in the range from 1 dtex to 3 dtex, particularly preferably in the range from 1.2 dtex to 2.8 dtex, very particularly preferably in the range from 1.5 dtex to 2.5 dtex, and wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count) of at least 150 dtex.

Similarly, according to the first aspect of the invention, the present invention also relates to a textile sheet material (sheet structure) 1 with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for use in protective clothing or protective equipment for the military and/or civilian sector, in particular as previously defined,

wherein the textile sheet material 1 comprises or consists of at least one yarn system 2 forming the textile sheet material 1, in particular a multifilament yarn system,

wherein the yarn system 2 comprises or is formed from at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from a plurality of at least substantially identical and/or mutually at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are connected to one another and/or combined with one another and/or brought together and/or combined, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (twisted) together, preferably by means of twisting (twisting together) the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in order to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from 5 to 500 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, in particular 10 to 400 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 20 to 300 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, preferably 40 to 200 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, particularly preferably 60 to 160 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, very particularly preferably 80 to 120 UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, and/or wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 each have a linear density (fineness) in the range from 0.2 dtex to 30 dtex, in particular in the range from 0.5 dtex to 10 dtex, preferably in the range from 0.8 dtex to 5 dtex, preferably in the range from 1 dtex to 3 dtex, particularly preferably in the range from 1.2 dtex to 2.8 dtex, very particularly preferably in the range from 1.5 dtex to 2.5 dtex,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count) of at least 150 dtex, and

wherein the sheet material 1 and/or the yarn system 2 is formed in the form of a textile knitted fabric, in particular as knitted fabrics and/or as knitted fabrics, preferably as knitted fabrics, wherein the sheet material 1 and/or the yarn system 2 has a plurality of stitches 5 on the one hand and optionally at least one binding element 6 different therefrom on the other hand, wherein the binding element 6 is selected from the group consisting of loop, float (floatation), weft, partial weft and standing thread, preferably loop and float (floatation).

A further object of the present invention—according to a further aspect of the present invention—is furthermore a protective article, in particular protective clothing or protective equipment, with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for the military and/or civilian sector,

wherein the subject matter comprises or consists of at least one textile sheet material (1) as previously defined; and/or wherein the article of protection is made using a textile sheet 1 as previously defined and/or comprising a textile sheet 1 as previously defined; and/or

wherein the textile sheet material 1 is in the form of a textile knitted fabric, preferably in the form of a knitted fabric; and/or

wherein the sheet material 1 comprises a plurality of meshes 5 on the one hand and optionally at least one binding element 6 different therefrom on the other hand, wherein the binding element 6 is selected from the group consisting of a loop, a float, a weft, a partial weft and a standing thread, preferably a loop and a float.

In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a protective article, in particular protective clothing or protective equipment, with splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably with splinter protection, in particular for the military and/or civilian sector, in particular as previously defined,

wherein the subject matter comprises or consists of at least one textile sheet material 1,

wherein the sheet material comprises or consists of at least one yarn system 2 forming the textile sheet material 1, in particular a multifilament yarn system,

wherein the yarn system 2 comprises or is formed from at least one UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3,

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 consists of or is formed from a plurality of at least substantially identical and/or mutually at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments 4, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments 4 are connected to one another and/or combined with one another and/or brought together and/or combined, in particular twisted together and/or twisted (twisted), to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3, preferably by twisting (twisting together) the UHMW-PE individual filaments (4) to one another, and

wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn 3 has a titre (fineness, yarn count) of at least 150 dtex.

With regard to the protective article according to the invention, it thus behaves in particular in such a way that the relevant sheet material 1 is formed as defined above.

In particular, it may be provided according to the invention that the sheet material 1 is arranged in the protected object in areas and/or in sections or that the protected object is formed by the sheet material 1 in areas and/or in sections.

According to the invention, it may equally be provided that the sheet material 1, in particular at least in sections and/or areas or in particular over the entire surface, is arranged in a single layer in the protected article. In this respect, the sheet material 1 can, so to speak, form the base surface of the protected article at least in sections and/or areas.

In addition, according to the invention, it can also be provided that the sheet material 1 is arranged, in particular at least in sections and/or areas or in particular over the entire surface, in multiple layers, preferably in two layers, three layers, four layers or more, in the protected article. In this respect, according to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the individual layers are formed by a respective or separate sheet material 1. In principle, an eight-layer or sixteen-layer arrangement may also be considered in this respect, for example. In this way, the protective function can be increased in a targeted manner, at least in certain areas or sections. In particular, a four-layer arrangement has proven to be advantageous, since this still provides excellent values with respect to the bending or flexibility properties, so to speak, while simultaneously increasing the protective function, which is of considerable importance, for example, for wearing comfort.

In general, the arrangement of the sheet material 1 is such that, as the number of layers of the sheet material 1 increases, the relevant ballistic protection values V₅₀ according to STANAG 2920 for the respective multi-layer arrangement are also correspondingly increased in comparison with the single-layer arrangement.

The corresponding layers can, for example, be an integral part of the protective clothing. As will be explained below, however, a removable or detachable arrangement, in particular of multilayer splinter protection elements, can also be envisaged with respect to the protective article according to the invention.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it may also be the case that the subject-matter according to the invention further comprises a textile material, in particular a sheet material, in particular as defined above, in addition to or in combination with the sheet material 1 indicated according to the invention.

In this regard, reference may also be made to the above explanations regarding the textile material that may be used in relation to the sheet material 1 whereby the explanations in this regard also apply mutatis mutandis to this aspect of the present invention.

In particular, the textile material may be in the form of knitted fabric, in particular knitted or crocheted fabric; woven fabric; scrim; or textile composite, in particular knitted or woven fabric.

According to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the sheet material 1 is combined or brought together with the textile material, in particular joined.

In this respect, according to the invention, it may in particular be provided that the sheet material 1 and the textile material are arranged in a common plane and/or form a common plane and/or form a preferably closed plane.

In particular, according to the invention, it may be provided that the sheet material 1 and the textile material are respectively joined to each other at the edges, preferably by means of sewing, welding, gluing or the like, preferably by means of sewing and/or knitting. In this respect, according to an embodiment according to the invention, it is provided that the connection is not made, for example, by means of a zipper or, for example, by means of tacking.

Furthermore, it may also be provided that, with respect to the object of protection according to the invention, the sheet material 1 and the textile material are arranged in different planes and/or on top of each other and/or on top of each other.

In this respect, it may be provided that the sheet material 1 and the textile material are arranged loosely with respect to each other or are joined to each other, preferably joined to each other at the edges, preferably by means of sewing, welding, gluing or the like, preferably by means of sewing. In this respect, according to one embodiment according to the invention, it is provided that the connection is not made, for example, by means of a zipper or, for example, by means of stapling, since in particular this further prevents the formation of secondary splinters from the protective article itself.

In particular, the textile material may be gas-permeable, in particular air-permeable, and/or water-vapor-permeable.

Similarly, the textile material may be in the form of knitted fabric, in particular knitted or crocheted fabric; woven fabric; scrim; or textile composite, in particular knitted or woven fabric.

Moreover, it may be provided that the object of protection and/or the sheet material 1 and/or the textile material is additionally loaded and/or equipped with an adsorbent adsorbing chemical toxic and/or warfare agents, in particular a material based on activated carbon, preferably in the form of activated carbon particles in grain form (“grain carbon”) or spherical form (“spherical carbon”), in particular wherein the adsorbent is fixed to the protected object and/or the sheet material 1 and/or the textile material by means of an adhesive which is applied in particular discontinuously, preferably in the form of dots.

In general, the protective article may be in the form of protective clothing, in particular in the form of a protective suit; protective trousers, in particular protective underpants or protective overpants; a protective shirt, in particular a protective undershirt or protective overshirt; a protective vest; protective gloves; protective footwear; protective socks; protective headgear or the like.

In general, the protective article may be in the form of protective clothing in the form of undergarments (underwear) and/or outer clothing (outerwear). In general, the protective garment may be in the form of a garment for persons.

In this context, according to the invention, it can behave in particular in such a way that the sheet material 1, when worn, extends over the region of the thigh, in particular the front, inner and/or rear thigh, preferably the front and/or inner thigh; the loin; the genitals; the anal and/or perineal region; the lower leg, in particular the front, inner and/or rear lower leg, preferably the front and/or inner lower leg; the knee and/or the popliteal region; of the lower abdomen and/or of the bladder and urinary tract; of the lower back and/or of the renal pelvis; of the torso, in particular of the lateral and/or rear torso; of the upper and/or lower arm; of the bend and/or of the elbow; of the shoulder; of the neck; of the facial region, in particular of the lower facial region; of the hand, in particular of the back of the hand; and/or of the wrist and/or at least partially covers the aforementioned regions in the wearing state of the protective clothing and/or is arranged in the aforementioned regions in the wearing state. In this way, a targeted protection of specific body regions or sections can be provided.

Furthermore, it may also be provided that the protective article is in the form of protective equipment, preferably for protecting and/or covering or covering and/or lining objects. In this context, the protective equipment may be in the form of a sheet-like and/or two-dimensional structure, preferably in the form of a large-area coherent, in particular one-piece structure, preferably in the form of a cover, a cloth, a sheet, a blanket, a tarpaulin, a mat or the like.

In this context, with regard to the object to be protected, it is in particular the case that the object has a defined physical extension and/or a defined shape.

In particular, the object may be a technical object. Moreover, the object may be a mechanical and/or electronic object. Moreover, the object may be a civilian or military object, in particular a military object, preferably a technical-military, mechanical-military and/or electronic-military object.

In general, the article in the context of the present invention may be selected from the group of military articles and military equipment, preferably from the group of military equipment and/or military equipment, and/or wherein the article is selected from the group of preferably military vehicles, machines, weapons, ammunition, spare parts, electronic items, accessories, installations, facilities, equipment or the like.

In this respect, according to the invention, it is particularly the case that the protective material is adapted to the physical extension and/or the shape of the object.

Thereby, according to the invention, for the embodiment according to which the protective article according to the invention is formed in a special manner as protective equipment for objects, it behaves in such a way that the relevant protective material and/or the protective article as such is not formed as an article of clothing for persons.

With a view to ensuring a corresponding protective function, it may in particular be provided that the protective material is arranged on the outside of the article, in particular in the state of use and/or application.

In general, the protective material, in particular in the state of use and/or application, may partially cover and/or cover the object to be protected or at least substantially completely, preferably completely.

Moreover, the protective material may be reversibly and/or non-permanently (non-permanently), preferably removably, bonded to the article.

According to a further embodiment according to the invention, it may also be provided that the protective material is integrated into the article. For example, the protective material may form a lining of the article.

In addition, the protective material may also be an integral part of the article.

In general, according to the invention, it may also be the case that the protective material and the article form a single unit. In this respect, it may also be provided that the protective material is in particular firmly or permanently (permanently) connected to the article, in particular sewn, welded, laminated and/or glued.

Generally, the protective material may be at least substantially fully bonded to the article.

In addition, the protective material may be connected to the article at least in sections, in particular in a punctiform, linear and/or grid-like manner.

According to the invention, it may be provided, in particular for ensuring a further and in particular sectional or area-wise complementary protection, that the object of protection comprises at least one splinter protection element, in particular for forming and/or providing a complementary and/or supplementary and/or individually adaptable splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably splinter protection.

In this regard, the shatterproof element may comprise or be formed from at least one sheet material 1.

In general, the sheet material 1, in particular at least in sections and/or areas or in particular over the entire surface, may be arranged in a single layer in the splinter protection element. In addition, the sheet material 1, in particular at least in sections and/or areas or in particular over the entire surface, may be arranged in multiple layers, preferably in two layers, three layers, four layers, eight layers, sixteen layers or more, preferably four layers, in the splinter protection element. In this regard, the individual layers may be formed by a respective and/or separate sheet material 1. In general, an eight-layer or sixteen-layer embodiment of the splinter protection element is also possible.

Generally, the splinter protection element may be detachably or removably connected to the protective object. In this context, the splinter protection element may be insertable in a receiving device, in particular receiving pocket, of the protective object Generally, in the context of the present invention, it may also be envisaged in this connection that the splinter protection elements, when the protective article is in the wearing state, extend respectively over different body regions or sections of the support associated with the respective splinter protection elements, or at least partially cover the corresponding regions of the support in each case. In a corresponding manner, the splinter protection elements may, in the context of their use with respect to protective equipment, extend over specific areas or sections of an object to be protected.

On the basis of the conception according to the invention, a splinter protection which can be adjusted and supplemented with regard to the wearer or the object as well as with regard to an underlying danger potential can thus be provided by the possibly provided use of special splinter protection elements which, for example, are specifically arranged with regard to defined body areas or regions or defined areas of an object to be protected.

It is also an object of the present invention—according to yet another aspect of the present invention—to use a sheet material 1, as previously defined, for providing or increasing splinter, puncture and/or cut protection in protective articles, in particular protective clothing and/or protective equipment, preferably for the military and/or civilian sector.

Finally, the present invention—according to yet another aspect of the present invention—also relates to the method for providing or increasing a splinter, puncture and/or cut protection, preferably a splinter protection, in protective articles, in particular protective clothing and/or protective equipment, preferably for the military and/or civil sector, wherein at least one sheet material 1, as previously defined, is used for forming and/or producing the sheet material 1 and/or is integrated into the sheet material 1.

Further embodiments, variations, modifications, particularities and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent and realizable to those skilled in the art upon reading the description, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention will be illustrated with reference to the following embodiments, which are in no way intended to limit the present invention.

Examples

A) Ballistic Protection Effect of Various Textile Sheet Materials

The ballistic protection effect (ballistic holding capacity) or the splinter protection is determined for various textile sheet materials.

For this purpose, the ballistic protection effect of the sheet materials is determined in the form of the respective ballistic protection values V₅₀, measured according to STANAG 2920 (RCC 0.13 g, with RCC=Right Circular Cylinder). High V₅₀ values mean a better ballistic protection function or holding capacity of the tested fragmentation protection elements. The ballistic protection values given below refer to a single-layer arrangement of the sheet material or to the sheet material as such.

The respective textile sheet materials are thereby in the form of knitted fabric. In addition, the respective textile sheet materials are based on the use of a yarn in the form of a UHMW-PE multifilament yarn which has a corresponding number of UHMW-PE individual filaments.

To the respective sheet materials in detail:

-   -   a) First, a textile sheet material A according to the invention         is examined. This is a sheet material in which a UHMW-PE         multifilament yarn is used which is formed from 100 UHMW-PE         individual filaments. The UHMW-PE individual filaments formed as         continuous fibers are at least substantially identical to each         other, are formed at least substantially entirely of UHMW-PE,         and have a linear density (fineness) of 2 dtex each. The UHMW-PE         individual filaments are twisted together to form the UHMW-PE         multifilament yarn. The resulting UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is         thereby twisted in the Z-direction, with a yarn or filament         twist of about 80 T/m. The UHMW-PE multifilament yarn also has a         titre (fineness, yarn count) of about 220 dtex, a diameter of         about 175 μm, a fineness-related maximum tensile strength of         about 340 cN/tex, and a maximum tensile elongation of about         3.5%.

The resulting textile sheet material according to the invention has a weight per unit area of about 250 g/m² and a thickness of about 1.5 mm. Furthermore, the sheet material has a mesh count or density of about 9 wales/cm and about 20 courses/cm. In addition, the sheet material has a total elongation in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of about 20% each.

The sheet material A has a ballistic protection value V₅₀ of >390 m/s, as also shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Material Ballistic protection value V₅₀ Sheet material A >390 m/s

-   -   The table shows that the sheet material A according to the         invention has a very high ballistic protection value V₅₀.     -   b) Furthermore, textile sheet materials B1 to B5 according to         the invention are examined, which are constructed in accordance         with the aforementioned sheet material A, but with the proviso         that the yarn or thread twist is varied in the case of the sheet         materials B1 to B5, as shown in the following Table 2. Table 2         also summarizes the ballistic protection values V₅₀ determined         in each case:

TABLE 2 Yarn or Ballistic protection Material thread twist value V₅₀ Sheet material B1  55 T/m >250 m/s Sheet material B2  60 T/m >310 m/s Sheet material B3 120 T/m >370 m/s Sheet material B4 140 T/m >360 m/s Sheet material B5 150 T/m >280 m/s

-   -   -   The table shows that, compared to the sheet material A             according to the invention (about 80 T/m), smaller ballistic             protection values V₅₀ are present for the sheet materials B1             to B5, with high values still being obtained overall for the             sheet materials B2 to B4, while the values in this respect             are lower for the sheet materials B1 and B5.         -   Without wishing to invoke or limit this theory, the drop in             ballistic protection value V₅₀ for sheet materials B3 to B5             may possibly be attributed to the fact that greater yarn or             thread twist results in reduced freedom of movement and/or             less than optimal interaction of the UHMW-PE individual             filaments in the multifilament yarn, so that the input and             in particular the dissipation or distribution of kinetic             energy within the yarn is less optimal.

    -   c) In addition, textile sheet materials C1 to C5 according to         the invention are examined, which are constructed in accordance         with the aforementioned sheet material A, but with the proviso         that in the case of the sheet materials C1 to C5 the number of         UHMW-PE individual filaments forming the UHMW-PE multifilament         yarn is varied, as shown in the following Table 3. Table 3 also         summarizes the ballistic protection values V₅₀ determined in         each case:

TABLE 3 Number of individual Ballistic protection Material filaments value V₅₀ Sheet material C1 5 >130 m/s Sheet material C2 20 >190 m/s Sheet material C3 50 >300 m/s Sheet material C4 450 >380 m/s Sheet material C5 650 >310 m/s

-   -   -   The table shows that, compared to the sheet material A             according to the invention (with 100 individual filaments),             smaller ballistic protection values V₅₀ are present for the             sheet materials C1 to C5. In particular, sheet material C1             has a relatively small ballistic protection value V₅₀. In             addition, a certain decrease in the ballistic protection             value V₅₀ is also apparent in particular for sheet material             C5, whereby, in addition, a more difficult production of the             material is present in particular for sheet material C5,             which is also the case in a weakened form for sheet material             C4. In contrast, the sheet materials C2 to C5 each still             have relatively high ballistic protection values V₅₀.         -   Without wishing to be limited to this theory, the decrease             in the ballistic protection value V₅₀ in the case of the             sheet material C5 (and the stagnation or only slight             decrease in the case of the sheet material C4) can possibly             be attributed to the fact that, due to the large or             increasing number of UHMW-PE individual filaments in the             yarn, there is only limited freedom of movement and/or no             optimum interaction of the individual filaments, so that the             input and, in particular, the dissipation or distribution of             kinetic energy within the yarn is impaired or at least not             optimized further. Moreover, equally without wishing to be             limited to this theory, the deteriorated processability of             the respective multifilament yarns to form the sheet             material, as is the case in particular for the sheet             material C5 and also to a lesser extent for the sheet             material C4, may be associated with a sometimes reduced             pliability or flexibility of the respective underlying             multifilament yarns.

    -   d) Furthermore, textile sheet materials D1 to D4 according to         the invention are examined, which are constructed in accordance         with the aforementioned sheet material A, but with the proviso         that in the case of the sheet materials D1 to D4, the titre         (fineness) of the UHMW-PE individual filaments forming the         UHMW-PE multifilament yarn is varied, as shown in the following         Table 4 (with a corresponding variation in the titre of the         multifilament yarn as such consequently also being associated         with this). Table 4 also summarizes the ballistic protection         values V₅₀ codetermined in each case:

TABLE 4 Titer individual Ballistic protection Material filament value V₅₀ Sheet material D1 0.2 dtex >170 m/s Sheet material D2 0.5 dtex >260 m/s Sheet material D3  10 dtex >380 m/s Sheet material D4  20 dtex >370 m/s

-   -   -   The table shows that, compared with the sheet material A             according to the invention (with the titre of the individual             filaments of 2 dtex in each case), lower ballistic             protection values V₅₀ are present for the sheet materials D1             to D4. The sheet materials D3 and D4 exhibit high ballistic             protection values V₅₀, but no further increase can be seen             compared with sheet material A. In addition, in particular             with regard to the sheet material D4, a somewhat poorer             processability of the multifilaments to the sheet material             results, possibly due to a reduced pliability or flexibility             of the resulting multifilament yarn.

    -   e) Furthermore, a textile sheet material E according to the         invention is investigated, which is based on sheet material A         (but which has no additional binding elements or no floats), but         with the proviso that the sheet material E also has special         binding elements in the form of floats. In this case, the         binding elements in the form of floats lead to a further         increase in the stability properties. Thus, the textile sheet         material E has a ballistic protection value V₅₀ of >430 m/s, as         also shown in Table 5 below:

TABLE 5 Material Ballistic protection value V₅₀ Sheet material E (with >430 m/s floats]

-   -   -   The table thus shows that the sheet material E according to             the invention has a further improved ballistic protection             value V₅₀.

    -   f) Furthermore, a textile sheet material F according to the         invention is investigated, which is based on sheet material A         (but which does not have any additional binding elements or         handles), but with the proviso that the sheet material F also         has special binding elements in the form of handles. Thereby,         the binding elements in the form of handles lead to a further         enhancement of the stability properties. Thus, the textile sheet         material F has a ballistic protection value V₅₀ of >420 m/s, as         also shown in Table 6 below:

TABLE 6 Material Ballistic protection value V₅₀ Sheet material F (with floats] >420 m/s

-   -   -   The table shows that the sheet material F according to the             invention has a further improved ballistic protection value             V₅₀.

    -   g) Furthermore, a textile sheet material G according to the         invention is examined, which corresponds to sheet material A,         but with the proviso that the sheet material F is subjected to         hydrophilization or has a hydrophilic finish. The ballistic         protection value V₅₀ of the textile sheet material G is         comparable to or even higher than that of the sheet material A         and is >395 m/s, as also shown in Table 7 below:

TABLE 7 Material Ballistic protection value V₅₀ Sheet material G (with hydrophilization) >395 m/s

-   -   -   The table shows that the sheet material F according to the             invention has a further slightly improved ballistic             protection value V₅₀, possibly due to a possibly better             sliding behavior of the meshes or the individual filaments             relative to one another in the multifilament yarn.

B) Wear Physiological Properties/Washing Properties

-   -   For the textile fabrics A and G mentioned above, an         investigation is also carried out with regard to their         physiological wearing properties and their washing properties         and resistance to washing.     -   Both face materials A and G exhibit high air permeability         according to DIN EN ISO 9237. In addition, according to the         TEGEWA test, sheet material A exhibits hydrophilicity with a         sink time of less than 1 second for the potted test solution,         while a significantly reduced sink time can even be determined         for sheet material G in this respect. This illustrates that the         materials can absorb perspiration or moisture even over a long         period of time without feeling damp, and that the materials are         capable of removing moisture or body perspiration from the         wearer, with sheet material G being further improved in this         respect compared with sheet material A. In addition, sheet         material G has an even higher resistance to moisture and body         perspiration than sheet material A. In addition, the sheet         material G has further improved antistatic properties compared         to sheet material A.     -   In addition, the sheet material G has a further improved washing         resistance compared to sheet material A. Thus, after a large         number of washing cycles (e.g. 20 washing cycles) in a domestic         washing machine at a washing temperature of 60° C., there are at         most slight changes in the material properties of sheet material         A (i.e. at most a slight reduction in the ballistic protection         value by a maximum of 5%), while for sheet material G there are         no significant changes in the material properties after a         corresponding number of washing cycles. The materials are also         characterized by a short drying time, which is further improved         in the case of the sheet material F.

Overall, the above embodiments show that the sheet materials according to the invention have particularly good ballistic protection properties, while there is also a high level of resistance and, in addition, a high level of wearing comfort of the materials is ensured in the case of use in protective clothing.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Textile sheet material -   2 Yarn system -   3 UHMW-PE-multifilament yarn -   4 UHMW-PE-individual filament -   5 Mesh -   6 Binding element 

1-70. (canceled)
 71. A protective article in form of protective clothing or protective equipment, with at least one of splinter, puncture or cut protection properties for the military or civilian sector, wherein the article of protection comprises at least one textile sheet material, wherein the textile sheet material comprises at least one yarn system forming the textile sheet material, wherein the yarn system consists of at least one UHMW-PE multi filament-yarn, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn consists of a plurality of at least substantially identical UHMW-PE individual filaments, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments are twisted together to form the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn consists of 5 to 500 UHMW-PE individual filaments and wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments each have a linear density in the range from 0.2 dtex to 30 dtex, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has in the Z-direction or in the S-direction a yarn twist in the range of 60 T/m to 140 T/m and wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has a titer of at least 150 dtex.
 72. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn consists of 10 to 400 UHMW-PE individual filaments.
 73. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments each have a linear density in the range from 0.5 dtex to 10 dtex.
 74. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments have at least substantially identical titers to one another, wherein the deviation of the respective titers from one another is at most 10%.
 75. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE individual filaments are formed at least substantially entirely of UHMW-PE.
 76. The protective article according claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has in the Z-direction or in the S-direction a yarn twist in the range of 65 T/m to 120 T/m.
 77. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has in the Z-direction or in the S-direction a yarn twist in the range of 70 T/m to 100 T/m.
 78. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has in the Z-direction or in the S-direction a yarn twist in the range of 75 T/m to 90 T/m.
 79. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has a titer in the range from 155 dtex to 450 dtex.
 80. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn has a titre (fineness, yarn fineness) in the range from 180 dtex to 350 dtex.
 81. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the sheet material or the yarn system is in the form of a textile knitted fabric, wherein the sheet material or the yarn system has a plurality of stitches on the one hand and optionally at least one binding element different therefrom on the other hand; wherein the binding element is selected from the group of handle, float, weft, partial weft and standing thread; and wherein the binding element is of a handle or a float (floatation); and wherein the binding element is formed from the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn and a separate UHMW-PE multifilament yarn different from the UHMW-PE multifilament yarn.
 82. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the sheet material comprises a number of mesh sticks (mesh sticks/cm) in the range of 2 to 25 mesh sticks/cm.
 83. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the sheet material comprises a number of stitch rows in the range from 2 to 40 stitch rows/cm.
 84. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the sheet material has a shatter or ballistic protection value V₅₀ in a range from 185 m/s to 900 m/s.
 85. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the sheet material is provided with a hydrophilic finish or has been subjected to hydrophilization using at least one hydrophilizing agent; wherein the hydrophilizing agent is selected from the group of (i) polymers based on at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid, in particular polymers based on at least one unsaturated C3-C 6-carboxylic acid, (ii) copolymers of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and comonomers, (iii) alkoxylation products, (iv) modified fluoropolymers, and (v) mixtures or combinations thereof.
 86. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the protective article further comprises a textile material; wherein the sheet material is joined with the textile material.
 87. The protective article according to claim 86, wherein the sheet material and the textile material are arranged in a common plane; and wherein the sheet material and the textile material are each joined to one another at the edges by means of sewing, welding, gluing or the like.
 88. The protective article according to claim 86, wherein the sheet material and the textile material are arranged in different planes and on top of each other; and wherein the sheet material and the textile material are loosely arranged with respect to one another or are joined to one another.
 89. The protective article according to claim 71, wherein the textile material is gas-permeable; and wherein the textile material is in the form of knitted fabric; and wherein the protective article is additionally equipped with an adsorbent chemical toxic or warfare agents in the form of activated carbon particles in grain form or spherical form, wherein the adsorbent is fixed to the sheet material by means of an adhesive which is applied in a point-like manner.
 90. A method for providing and increasing splinter, puncture and cut protection in protective articles in form of protective clothing for the military or civilian sector, wherein the method comprises the step of using a protective article according to claim
 71. 